Local First
Useful without cloud AI.
AI Optional
Enable it only when needed.
Meaning Preserved
Reduce repetition, not sense.
Academic Citations
Keep sources close.
Research Workspace
Read, cite, and continue.
Listen While You Read
Browser voices, paced reading.
Workspace modes
One workspace. Three ways to work.
Compare active
Compare every paragraph without losing context.
View the original document and compressed result side by side.
Compare
Original Text
Compressed Text
SourceNoteCopied TextStyleBarth, 2010Definition“Careful reading...”Chicago
Reading active
Remove distractions. Focus on understanding.
Hide the source and expand the compressed text for focused reading.
Reading
Compressed Text
A serious reader can move faster when the main argument stays intact and repeated scaffolding falls away.
CitationNoteQuoteFormatWatersKeep“Source integrity...”Turabian
Research active
Your citations stay connected to your research.
Keep bibliography, notes, and generated citations in one workspace.
Research
Copied TextNoteBibliographyStyle“Renewal requires patient reading...”Use in section twoGee, Fruit of the SpiritTurabian“Formation takes repetition...”Leadership pointMiller, Leadership FormationAPA
Compressed Text
AI Study Tools
The AI reads with you — and takes notes.
One AI pass over your document produces more than compressed text. LeanRead maps the argument, defines the vocabulary, and gathers the passages worth citing — automatically.
Outline & Key Terms
1. The case for renewal
2. Leading from character
A map of the whole book.
Every AI compression comes with a structured outline of the document's argument and its key terms — defined the way this author uses them, not the dictionary way. Copy it or export it to Word for your notes.
AI Suggested Citations
PassageAction“Renewal requires patient reading...”Cite“Formation takes repetition...”Cite
The quotes find you.
The AI marks up to 25 quote-worthy passages per document — significant claims, definitions, memorable statements — every one verified verbatim against your original text. Focus the suggestions on any subject you're studying and refine without recompressing. One tap cites it in Turabian, Chicago, APA, or MLA.
Saved With Your Workspace
OutlineAI Citations (12)
Generated once, kept forever.
Outlines, key terms, and suggested citations save with your workspace and follow you across devices — sign out, come back next week, and your study notes are waiting. No regenerating, no waiting twice.
Privacy and control
Control how your documents are processed.
Local Only
Your documents stay yours.
Local processing is the default.
Optional
Use AI when you choose.
AI assistance is optional and user controlled.
Reading controls
Choose the pace and measure the result.
Choose how much you want to read.
Move from full reading to rapid review without losing the main ideas.
100%Full
90%Light
75%Balanced
50%Focused
25%Rapid
Measure every reading session.
Track words, result size, time saved, and compression source.
Original Words
9,753
Compressed Words
4,195
Result Size
43%
Time Saved
31:37
Generated By
Local Engine
Responsive reading
Built for phone, tablet, and desk.
Reading1.5x
The compressed reading keeps the point clear and ready for listening.
TextNoteSourceStyleGrace...QuoteWatersTurabian
Built for phones.
Read and listen from a layout made for small screens.
Ready for tablets.
Keep comparison and research tools usable in landscape or portrait.
CompareReadingResearch
Original
Compressed
CitationNoteCopied TextStyleGeeLater“The Spirit...”Chicago
Pricing
Try everything free for 14 days.
Every new account gets the full workspace — compression, listening, citations, AI, and cloud sync — free for 14 days. No credit card required to start.
Free Trial
14 days
no credit card required
- The complete workspace, nothing held back
- Compression, listening, and one-click citations (Turabian, Chicago, APA, MLA)
- AI compression and cloud sync included
- Your work is saved if you subscribe later
Monthly
Most flexible$9
per month · first 14 days free
- Everything in Free
- AI compression for deeper meaning preservation
- AI outlines, key terms, and suggested citations
- Cloud sync for sources, citations, and workspaces
- Priority support
Annual
Two months free$90
per year · first 14 days free
- Everything in Monthly
- Billed once per year
- Best value for serious readers
Subscriptions are handled securely by Paddle, our merchant of record. Cancel anytime from your billing portal. Not satisfied? Email [email protected] within 14 days of purchase for a full refund.
Get in touch
Help shape the future of serious reading.
LeanRead is open — you can start your free trial right now. Have a question first, or an idea for what we should build next? Write to us here.
FAQ
Is LeanRead public yet?
Yes. Sign up at leanread.app and every new account starts a 14-day free trial of the complete workspace — no credit card required.
Does LeanRead require AI?
No. Local Only is the default. AI Compression is optional and should be explicit if enabled for a user.
What formats does it support?
Text, Markdown, DOCX, EPUB, and text-based PDF documents, plus public webpages loaded from a URL.
Can LeanRead create perfect citations automatically?
LeanRead is intentionally conservative. It uses bibliography details supplied by the reader so editions and source information stay trustworthy.